Senior benefits in Grainger County, Tennessee

The East Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability, run by the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (ETHRA), serves older adults age 60 and older, adults with disabilities, and caregivers in Grainger County. It plans and funds local aging services such as congregate and home-delivered meals, the SHIP/SMP Medicare counseling program, family caregiver support and respite, options counseling for long-term care and home- and community-based services, the long-term care ombudsman, and public guardianship. Call the toll-free Information and Assistance line to find out what is offered locally.

Estimated service value: $1,000–$6,000 a year

Tennessee's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps pay home heating and cooling bills. In Grainger County it is delivered by Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority (DCEA), the local Community Action Agency, which also serves Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Monroe, and Sevier counties. Households under the income limit get points based on income, energy burden, and whether members are elderly, disabled, veterans, or young children. Payment goes directly to the utility. Apply through the state THDA portal, call the DCEA office, or dial 2-1-1 for referral.

Estimated bill savings: $174–$750 a year

Grainger County has no hospital of its own. Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System in nearby Morristown is the closest full-service hospital and serves Grainger County residents. As part of Covenant Health, it offers financial assistance (charity care) for emergency and medically necessary care based on household income against the Federal Poverty Guidelines, plus a review of assets. Ask Patient Account Services for a financial assistance application or call to request one.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

In this county: Grainger: no in-county hospital; Morristown-Hamblen (Covenant Health) in Morristown is the nearest hospital. Charity care is based on income against the Federal Poverty Guidelines and an asset review, set in its published policy. Tennova Jefferson Memorial in Jefferson City is another nearby option.

ETHRA Public Transit runs door-to-door, demand-response vans across Grainger County and the wider East Tennessee region. The service meets Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and is open to the general public, with priority help for older adults and riders with a disability getting to medical visits, shopping, senior centers, and other trips. Rides are shared and must be booked ahead, so call at least three business days before the trip to reserve a seat.

Estimated service value: $200–$1,500 a year